Vortex Optics Gen2 Strike Eagle 1-8x Scope Review

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Do you zero this on zero magnification??

CR2032 battery and not a CR123A, right?

Love your vids, but this autofocusing is driving me crazy. Ever thought about getting something like a manual focus 50mm prime lens for your camera? Background will go out of focus, but you'll look nice and sharp (provided you focus before filming). I'd love to be your camera guy haha.

@ Mr. Guns & Gear: Thanks for another well-done video. Just wanted to chime in with my experiences with the ARBDC3 reticle, which mirror your own. The Vortex engineers/designers obviously intended the center dot to be zeroed for maximum point-blank range or something like a battle-sight zero, which IMO is where the 50/200 idea comes from. Where their system breaks down a bit is as you describe, but also when you try and use the optic and BDC with .308 instead of 5.56/.223. Using a 50-yard zero, the BDC values don't really correspond all that well with the trajectory of a .308, no matter what type/weight of round is being used, M80 Ball, 168 grain OTM, etc.

If you plan to use the BDC with 5.56/.223, perhaps the best course of action is to do a preliminary 50-yard zero, but confirm it at 300 yards. If you can zero the three-hundred yard hash -mark at 300 yards, the lower legs ought to be pretty close to being on. You can then reconstruct/back-calculate your holds and POI vs. POA closer in.

Your closing remarks are on the mark. The ACSS reticle is superior to the new ARBDC3. Vortex gets high marks for upgrading what had been an obsolescent product. Now they need to fix what ails the new one, and maybe then they'll be on level ground to the competition. That being said, the Strike Eagle offers a lot of value for a decent price, and the Vortex guarantee is great. They really stand behind their products. My main gripe is the three arrows or brackets pointing to the center of the glass. The concept is OK in theory, but the arrows are too large and obscure too much of the remaining FOV, in my opinion.

Which would you prefer if you just absolutely prefer a flatter 50 yard zero? If that was the only zero you’d use would you still prefer a PA? I’ve just never understood a 100 yard zero on a 5.56 round. All my sub 16” barrels get a 36 yard zero and 16” plus I go 50 just for holdover purposes. The reason I ask is that I just finished a 14.5” build and I’m about to put one of these two optics or maybe even a SwampFox on it. I have a gen 1 Strike Eagle that has done ok. I prefer the larger reticle as it allows for more precise shots at closer ranges and doesn’t cover the target the way PA ACSS does.

All of them use a version of the ta31

i would rather see these come with a mil dot or an moa reticle over the BDC

Great review as usual. Do the hold overs work with the 100yrd zero? Just got mine and I'm going to the range tomorrow. Thanks

My fast focus eye piece seems to have a bit of play when I I move it a bit. When I look down the scope the reticle moves when I wiggle the eye piece. It’s not much but I feel like this shouldn’t happen at all….all other scopes I have are solid as a rock and won’t budge

Sorry for the stupid question, new to scoped. But does it matter what caliber rifle you're putting a scope like this on? 223/5.56/300BO/.308? I assume it would zero fine and the hold overs would work, or no?

A buddy loaned me a Vortex scope and I dropped the damned thing. Today he received a new scope, zero charge to him.

Face Palm…WHY the horrible music

I have both 1 x 8 and the gen 1 glass is superior, let's in mire light and is easier to obtain a sharp image at 8x zoom, low light visibility is way better too. On gen 2. Good luck getting a sharp image at 8x zoom, it's also very difficult to get a good eye alignment, gen 1 is much better

Mine is off to the right 2 ?

What's the intro track?

"Janky mounts" 😂

Am I the only one who’s optic sits almost behind the charging handle?

Wtf is up with the hitler fb logo? Is that a dig at zuckerburger? Or something else? Either way, its weird af 🤨

Arrowhead 1-10

Hey can you review swampfox optics please?

Got it 3 weeks ago. I've shot three pigs so far. 2 at once with a lung shot. And one head shot.

I just picked up the Strike Eagle 1-8 OPMod version from DVOR(Optics Planet) for $350. Waiting on my Midwest Ind. mount from Brownells so I can see how I like it

I just ordered the OPMOD fde version! I decided on the vortex vs the primary arm just because I prefer the small dot in the reticle as opposed to the the arrow.

Just ordered this…waiting on delivery – glad to see you did a review on it.

Primary Arms 1 x 6 FFP on my Tavor 7👌

I hope i will not regret getting the vortex 1-8x opmod. I really like the PA acss but, i cant find them online. I ended up getting the vortex. But i know or we all know vortex is also great especially with their warranty and customer service. I cant wait to try my scope.

Great Channel. I really enjoy and learn a lot from your videos. Keep up the great work!

Would this scope be any good for hunting either coyote or deer. How much recoil can it handle im looking to put one on a 5.56 – 450 bushmaster both on AR15 platform

Great vid

Vortex has a great warranty….. that seems to be what everyone says. I was out on a limited entry hunt and my scope failed had this exact thing happen. I no longer by anything from Vortex.

And just like that, I e ordered a vortex!

Super video

My flashy logo fell out after one range trip so I'm tactical now

This or the swamp fox arrowhead 1×8? Such a hard decision.

Suggestion…use some blue loctite on the throw lever or it will work loose.

ordered the 1×6 strike eagle from brownells also with mount. Was super excited but It never delivered and i contacted them multiple times about it. Was under the impression that I would get my money back, but after 2 months of them giving me the run around they told me sorry and the i should contact police if suspected theft. Took my money and thats all they had to say. Was super excited and have only heard good things about brown ells but won't ever go through them which i hate because they have lots of good products.

Just like to make a request. Could you review tactical scorpion 3A soft armor

Nice review but I believe the comments on the ranging hash marks are incorrect. From what I've found, The measurement tool works by placing the base of a silhouette target on the base hash mark (the lonely horizontal line floating below the numbered hash marks at the very top of the reticle) and then using the top hash marks in relation to the top numbered hash marks. If the top of the target lines up with the top mark with the 3 next to it, then the target is approximately 300 yards away. If it lines up with the hash mark with the number 4 next to it, then the target is approximately 400 yards away and so on. Silhouette targets are about the same size as an average human adult male. This tool is great for quickly ranging silhouette or average adult size male targets, but only those targets. Even though the measurement tool has limited application, it’s still a great tool to have handy when it can be used.

Thanks for the video, any chance you'll look at some of the Swampfox stuff? It seems like a reasonably priced option out there and I've read some good reviews on forums about their LPVO's, but haven't seen any big youtube reviews on it yet.

I zeroed mine at 50 just because I use this scope for hunting, and most of my shots are well within 150 yards. With most being at ~20-80yds.

Great review, thanks!

You should check out the blackhound lpvos

What about the glass? Which one has better?

It's Chinese junk that will ditch it's great guarantee when profits start to drop just like nikon. Buy American for lifetime quality

Here is my rule of zero.
First, let me state my AR 15 zero is a 36-yard zero only. (16" or less barrel length)

Any other weapon especially of larger caliber. I tend to like a 250-yard elevation zero. With a 50 yd windage zero. Tuned on a flat calm day. (Wind effects hurt early)
With a elevation data card collected at various ranges per individual firearm.

Also in data collection I have found these points critical.

Temperature: being the point. The variables being considerations.

Cold bore: most shots fired for direct action purposes are on a cold bore. (To maintain a good cold bore. After a rare bore cleaning. I always always always fire a fowling shot before storage.)

I will on purpose take a firearm to a range of known distance with only one round. My highest priority is that first-round accuracy.
I also collect temp data of that shot. I live in a four-season state. I keep that round, my chamber and bore as close to ambient temp as possible.
★ Impacts between the heat of summer, the dead of winter and subsequent follow up shots can be extremely steep. ★

In my shooting experience. The first shot fired is all that has every mattered. Unless you are employing your 36yd zeroed firearm of course.

In life knowing how to make it count is half the equation. Making opportunity is the other half.

Mine showed up with the parallax set around 50 yards. It is supposed to be set for 100. Gotta send it back. Their customer service is awesome but it would be better if the QC was better

Great explanation of the reticle!